Open-mesh fabric selvage



Feb; 8, 1949. T. M. SCRUGGS I 2,461,240

OPEN-MESH FABRIC SELVAGE Filed May 24, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l 8 I N L 5LEA/0 5 WARP T. M. SCRUGGS OPEN-MESH FABRIC SELVAGE Feb. 8, 1949.

Filed May 24, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS.

Patented Feb. 8, 1949 OPEN-MESH FABRIC SELVAGE Thomas M. Scruggs,Richmond Heights, Mo., as-

signor to Bemis Bro. Bag Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation ofMissouri Application May 24,1946, Serial No. 672,118

3 Claims.

This invention relates to open-mesh fabric selvage and, moreparticularly, to selvage for a severed edge of open-mesh fabric bagmaterial, and relates also to methods of forming such selvage.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision ofopen-mesh fabric having an improved selvage on a severed edge thereofwhich effectively prevents unraveling of the fabric; the provision ofsuch fabric having a selvage of this class which stifiens the severededge; the provision of a fabric having such selvage which does notinclude any strand material other than that of the fabric itself; andthe provision of methods comprising relatively few and simple steps forforming such selvage on a severed edge of open-mesh fabric. Otherobjects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations ofelements, steps and sequence of steps, features of construction andmanipulation, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in thestructures and methods hereinafter described, and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which several of various possibleembodiments of the invention are illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating a web of openmesh fabric which hasbeen partially split or severed on its longitudinal center line;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of one side of the fabric illustrating asevered edge thereof and a selvage being formed along said edge;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section, taken on line 33 of Figs. 2and 4, illustrating the finished selvage;

Fig. 4 is a partial plan view of the fabric illustrating the selvage butviewed from the side opposite that shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating a modification, showing an open-meshfabric being split or severed and a selvage being formed along thesevered edges; and,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section, taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5,illustrating the finished modified selvage.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a web of open-meshfabric (bag material, for example) being severed on its longitudinalcenter line to divide the web into two strips. As shown in Fig. 2, themain body of the fabric is of conventional open leno weave havinglongitudinally spaced transverse filler strands 3 and transverselyspaced longitudinal double warp strands 5. The warp strands are pairedand twisted so as to cross between the filler strands. Thissubstantially prevents relative sliding of the warp and filler strandsand maintains the open-mesh form. Herein this is called a leno weave.The web at its outer edges has woven-in strings 8 which function as drawcords in bags made up from the material after it has been treated asherein described.

The web I is severed substantially along its longitudinal center lineparallel to the warp strands by cutting through all the filler strandsbetween the two warp strands l immediately ad- J'acent the center lineon opposite sides thereof. This leaves ends 9 of the filler strandsprojecting from the severed marginal edge of the web. Since the warpstrands may unravel by sliding off the severed ends of the fillerstrands, it is desirable to provide a selvage to prevent suchunraveling.

To form the selvage, the warp strand 1 is pushed transversely inward onthe filler strands into engagement with the next adjacent warp strandII. This increases the projecting lengths of the filler strand ends 9.These ends are then bent over and laid against one side of the em gagedwarp strands l and II (as indicated at It) and secured thereto by acoating l5 of suitable adhesive (Fig. 3)' extending the length of theedge of the fabric. A suitable adhesive for this purpose comprisesnitrated cellulose in a volatile between the projecting filler strandends and the.

fabric. The web I I in this modification is of open leno weavecomprising spaced transverse filler strands l9 and spaced warp strands 2l. The warp strands are uniformly spacedthroughout the web except inzones paralleling the longitudinal center line on opposite sidesthereof. In each of these zones, an additional double warp strand 23 iswoven into the fabric. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the warp strandsimmediately adjacent the center line are designated 25 and the next warpstrands outward therefrom are designated 21. Each warp strand 23 liesbetween a strand 2! and what would normally be the next warp strand inconventional open-mesh fabric. Thus, strands 23 and 21 are spacedapproximately only half the distance of the ordinary warp strandspacing.

The web i1 is severed by cutting through all the filler strands 19between warp strands 25. This leaves ends 29 of the filler strandsprojecting from the edges of the two pieces of fabric. To form a selvagefor a severed edge,the respective warp strand 25 is slid transverselyinward on the filler strands until it engages the adjacent warp strand21. This increases the projecting length of the filler strand ends 29.These ends are bent or looped over and tucked into the space betweenwarp strands 23 and 21, as indicated at 3|, and secured in such positionby a coating 33 of an adhesive such as above described. The adhesiveis'not absolutely essential in this form, and may be omitted if sodesired. Its use, however, is preferable.

The close spacing of the warp strands 23 and 21 is such as to retain theends of the filler strands tucked in the fabric prior to application ofthe adhesive. The looped filler strand ends also interlock with thefabric and aid in preventing unraveling thereof. The group of warpstrands on the edge of the fabric, comprising engaged strands 25 and 21,and the adhesive stiffen the selvage.

The intermediate product in both forms of the invention is a pair ofwebs, each having a draw string 8 at one edge and the new selvage at theother edge. Each web may then be cut transversely into lengthsindicated, for example, at N in Fig. 1, and then folded along a linesuch as shown at L. This will bring together the lines T. The resultingfolded fabric may then be seamed along the adjacent lines T and along aline within the selvage formed by the present invention. This will forman open bag having at its mouth a draw string 8. Further details of howbags may thus be made up from open-mesh fabric will be found in theUnited States patent to Brady 2,392,221; also Allen Reissue 18,905 and1,941,509. In view of the above, it will be seen that the presentinvention provides for conveniently making a salvage, in this case abottom-forming selvage for bags.

The present invention also allows for conveniently splitting a wide web(such as shown in Fig. 1) into two webs and in a simple manner treatingthe resulting raw edges to form selvages which will not unravel andwhich may be used for bottom seams of bags'without having free strandsextending from the seams. It is to be understood that the separated andselvaged webs may also be cut in directions such that the salvage resulting from the present invention lies in a side seam or even at the'bagmouth.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above methods and constructionswithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above deseriptlon or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. An open-mesh fabric comprising spaced warp strands and spaced fillerstrands, each filler strand having a free end at a marginal edge of saidfabric, said edge having a group of engaged warp strands extending thelength thereof, the free end of each filler strand being bent overlongitudinally with respect to said edge and disposed against one sideof said group of warp strands and adhesively secured thereto.

2.,An open-mesh leno weave fabric comprising spaced double warp strandsand spaced filler strands, each filler strand having a free end at amarginal edge of said fabric, said edge having a group of two engagedwarp strands extending the length thereof, the free end of each filterstrand being bent over longitudinally with respect to said edge anddisposed against one side of said group of warp strands, and a coatingof adhesive extending the length of said edge and securing said freeends to said group of warp strands.

3. An open-mesh leno weave fabric comprising spaced double warp strandsand spaced filler strands, each filler strand having a free end at amarginal edge of said fabric, said edge having a group of two engagedwarp strands extending the length thereof, the free end of each fillerstrand being bent over longitudinally with respect to said edge anddisposed against one side of said group of warp strands, and a coatingof adhesive extending the length of said edge and securing; said freeends to said group of warp strands, and securing together the members ofsaid groups of warp strands.

THOMAS M. SCRUGGS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 573,715 Simpson Dec. 22, 18961,426,351 Brooks Aug. 22, 1922 1,682,198 Sitton Aug. 29, 1928 1,749,734Kelly Mar. 4, 1930 1,798,630 Miller Feb. 24, 1931 2,319,019 Van CourtMay 11, 1943

